Need Advice on the Best BASIC Setup for Reef Tank

[Stray32]

I would consider myself a newbie, I have had a 55 gallon reef tank setup now for about 8 months. I have had some success with some corals, complete disaster with others. The more I read and learn about this hobby, the more complicated and expensive it gets.

So what I need from you guys is some advice on my setup...additons or things to get rid of, to create a stable, yet COST-FRIENDLY reef tank.

I am currently running a 55 gallon tank, but just purchased a 75 gallon, so I will use that as my tank size. So here goes:

75 gallon, non-drilled AGA tank
Canister Filter w/ only carbon, polyfilter to maintain flow
AquaC Remora HOB Protein Skimmer
TurboTwist UV Sterilizer (not yet hooked up)
1 MaxiJet 1200 Powerhead for flow (difficult to put more than that in a 55 gallon tank)
Nova Extreme T5 Light, w/ 2 54W daylight, 2 54W actinic, 4 LED moonlights
Around 70 lbs of well-cultured live rock
1 1/2 - 2 inch sand base
Many mushrooms and polyps, green brain, torch, frogspawn, toadstool, pulsing xenia (does well in some spots, not well in others?), one large condy anemone, and 6 or so. (PROBABLY A LARGE BIOLOAD FOR A 55 GALLON, BUT REMEMBER, I AM UPGRADING TO A 75). I would like to get some leathers and SPS, but the few I have tried have been unsuccessful in this setup.

I have been told in the past to scrap the canister, drill the tank, and get a sump, which I plan on doing. Other than that, what other changes would you guys have me make to make this a well-balanced, nitrate/phosphate free (have had problems with this), setup?

Thanks ahead of time for your advice.

 

[nikon187]

def need more flow.. think about 2 koralia 3's

 

[SaltSolutions1]

I am learning the hard way that there is no such thing as a cost-friendly reef tank.

It is a very expensive hobby.

The initial setup, in my experience, is the most important part of it.

Filtration, Water Quality, and Lighting Is priority #1

If you go cheap or try to cut corners you will suffer the consequences of your decision. But, it looks like you have most of that covered.

As for your setup, non-drilled is ok, but it makes it so much easier if you have a drilled tank. If you have a sump or a fuge you will have less distance to travel for your pump/hoses, i.e. less expensive pumps.

the HOB aquac remora i heard is a good skimmer.
i just hooked up the HOB CPR Bak Pak and it does a great job for me.

The maxi-jet 1200 is what I have in my 45 gallon and does a great job for water circulation.

If you haven't purchased a canister filter yet I would waste the money. I ended up with one for free because it was given to me with my tank. I now have it hooked up simply just to keep the water clear and it seems to be working great along side my skimmer.

As for live rock the rule of thumb is 1.35 lbs of rock per gallon but no more than 1.75 lbs per gallon.

Live sand bed height is debate-able on here. You will get a ton of opinions on here about it. I have about a 2" sand bed in my 45 and seems to be fine.

As for lighting, you have that covered with the T-5.

Good Luck to you and Welcome to Reef Central!

 

[fivesmallworlds]

In my 75 I have my return from the sump pumping around 500 gph (OceanRunner) I also have a Koralia 2 (on the same end as the return) and a Koralia 3 (on the opposite end) I recently just added a MJ1200 which I modified DIY style for extra flow near the bottom of the back to keep detritus from settling there.

With just one MJ1200 you have A LOT of dead spots for gunk to accumulate and wreak havoc on your system. This will put your skimmer on hyperdrive and IMHO the AquaC HOB is just too little to keep up.

I have a 40b for a sump/refugium where I house my Octopus 200 skimmer. (8" body diameter, lots of skimming power)

You have a GREAT light fixture and you'll be really happy with it.

The UV is a nice addition and will help control some pests and diseases. (ich)

Canister filter... Not widely used these days, especially if you're running a sump. But I would hook it up to the sump and just run it a every couple of days to clear up the water a bit. As long as you have it, might as well use it!

The main reason I feel you're probably unsuccessful in keeping SPS is because of flow. Most SPS are high flow and one mj1200 just isn't going to cut it. I had a mj1200 in my old 29g and I still didn't think it was enough at times.

"pulsing xenia (does well in some spots, not well in others?)"

most likely the spots that it didn't do well in are the "dead spots" in your tank. dead spots = no flow... This has been a bit of a blessing for you though. I like xenia myself, but when it starts to spread, it takes over everything in its path.

IMO you should definitely go with a sump, make sure the tank you have is drillable (not tempered glass) before you just go at it though...

HTH - Good luck!

 

[StupidsReef]

Trash the canister & HOB skimmer and drill the tank as you were adivsed. Buy a sump and a good quality skimmer ( IMO that's something like Octopuss, Euroreef,ASM or MRC but that's IMO ). Buy 1 more maxi-jet and then buy the sure-flow kit for both of them. You can get them from PremiumAqautics.com a sponsor here on RC. Kit's are like $15 and snap right into place. Equiment wise you have everything else. If your that concern about the phosphates then you could get a phosphate reactor.

I would pick up a total of 75 pounds more of LR. 1 to 2 pounds per gallon is the going amount needed.

Other than that you look good. But your statement here COST-FRIENDLY ) , that's not a part of this hobby. Some corner's can be cut to a degree, but be warned, some corner's if you cut them you'll pay down the road. This hobby is not anywhere close to a "cost-friendly" hobby, but then again what hobby is??

 

[StupidsReef]

Wow, Ok there is no rule on to much LR. Just not enough. LR is natures way of filtering the water, not of LR and filterations is happered. I've never heard of having to much?? Maybe to much in the main display for someone's personnal touch/look.

Canister filters are Nitrite/Nitrate factorys. There is no oxgen transfer inside the sealed chamber, there for gas can not excape. All they do is trap & pump the highly saturated Nitrite and nitrate back into your tank. IMO that's not what I would want. There not down flow then up flow either, they run through goofy little chambers allowing debresis to settle and become a full time factory.

JMHO.

 

[Playa-1]

75 gallon, non-drilled AGA tank
I would trade this one in on a ReefReady AGA tank. Set up a new sump/Fuge and plan to grow a macro algae such as Chaetomorpha in the fuge area. A little live rock rubble and sand in there to create a good environment for pods to live long and prosper :lol:

Canister Filter w/ only carbon, polyfilter to maintain flow
Get rid of the Canister filter and go with a sump/fuge instead. Use a couple of reactors in the sump. One for carbon and one for GFO.

AquaC Remora HOB Protein Skimmer
Sell it and get an Octopus skimmer or an ASM to sit in your new sump.

TurboTwist UV Sterilizer (not yet hooked up)
Sell it and use the proceeds for something more useful.

1 MaxiJet 1200 Powerhead for flow (difficult to put more than that in a 55 gallon tank)
You can use this for mixing salt. Get yourself a couple of Koralia #3's for circulation in the new tank.

Nova Extreme T5 Light, w/ 2 54W daylight, 2 54W actinic, 4 LED moonlights
Get rid of this light and get one with individual reflectors. Maybe a t-5 retro kit if your going to run a canopy.

Around 70 lbs of well-cultured live rock
1# per gallon is the minimum recommended amount of LiveRock. Maybe you should add some more.

The best advise is to stock up on these


Must have for new tank.

Good luck with your new tank
:thumbsup:

 

[cveverly]

I agree 100% with Playa-1.

I might also add get a RO/DI unit. This will save you a lot of headaches.

You could use an overflow box on your new 75 but they are more problematic versus the RR tanks. If you do use an overflow make sure you match it with a good return pump. Too little and you get air trapped in the overflow tubes. Too much and you overflow the display tank. Either way makes your floor wet and your wife mad.

I have a 46 gallon tank and have two Koralia 2 and wish I would have bought 3s. Along with the Korallia's I have two Maxijet 900 with Hydor FLOs. I also have a Seio powerhead blowing against the front glass. Throw in the flow from my Octopus Skimmer and I think I have it covered. LOL

 

[Stray32]

Thanks for the replies guys!

A few questions and comments though:

Before I bought the Remora, I did some research and most of the reviews were positive. So far it is working great, so I am not sure I want to throw away $150 skimmer to upgrade right now.

The flow has always been an issue, and I plan on buying a few koralias for my 75 gallon, thanks for the advice. Should I plug them into a wavemaker?

Again, I spent a lot of money on that light as well, having been told by several people that it was a good option, so unless I can trade it for something better, I won't be buying additional lighting and I don't want to get rid of it.

It seems my immediate needs are a sump and more flow, so that's step one in the process. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[cveverly]

Your Remora will work but if you can sell it I would step up to a better skimmer. I have owned a couple of them in the past and in my view they are marginal skimmers. I now have a Octopus and Deltec and there is no comparison in my opinion.

Your light is also ok. If you want to keep light demanding SPS then you will need to upgrade the light. You will be able to keep LPS and lower light SPS but you may not get the color other people get.

I agree more flow should be your first step. If you can add a sump/refugium that will also help.

 

[Playa-1]

Before I bought the Remora, I did some research and most of the reviews were positive. So far it is working great, so I am not sure I want to throw away $150 skimmer to upgrade right now.
You don't have to throw it away. Save it for a rainy day or sell it and use the proceeds for something else. Your outgrowing it.

The flow has always been an issue, and I plan on buying a few koralias for my 75 gallon, thanks for the advice. Should I plug them into a wavemaker?
I don't use mine on a wave maker. I just put them on opposite ends of the tank and aim them in the general direction of the other one. That generates random flow. You could also add something like a seaswirl for you return line if you want more random flow action. You can always upgrade to a wavemaker later if you feel the need.

Again, I spent a lot of money on that light as well, having been told by several people that it was a good option, so unless I can trade it for something better, I won't be buying additional lighting and I don't want to get rid of it.
If your lighting does not have individual reflectors built into it and from what i've read it doesn't, Then it is not suitable for what your intending to use it for. Ever heard the old saying " You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink"?
Some of us have to learn all our lessons the hard way.

It seems my immediate needs are a sump and more flow
Flow is a piece of cake to solve. What is it that you think the sump is going to do for you?